Junior Sophomore
Elizabeth Ambrus Elizabeth Hilligoss
First-Team All-C-USA C-USA Freshman of the Year
Two-Time C-USA NCAA All-Region
Athlete of the Week Second-Team All-C-USA
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
TABLE OF CONTENTS ATHLETICS DIRECTORY QUICK FACTS
ADMINISTRATION GENERAL INFORMATION
General Information Athletics Director Location Birmingham Alabama
Head Coach Ray Stanfield Watson Brown Founded
Assistant Coaches & Support Staff Senior Associate Athletics Director Enrollment
Roster & Schedule Lee Moon
Colors Forest Green and Old Gold
Outlook Senior Associate Athletics Director/External Affairs
Nickname Blazers
Bios Brian Mackin
Affiliation NCAA Division I
Senior Associate AD/Women’s Sports Programs SWA
Season in Review Conference Conference USA
Rosalind Ervin
Race by race results President Dr Carol Garrison
Associate AD/Academic Affairs
Greatest Distance Runners in UAB History Director of Athletics Watson Brown
Judy Sackfield
Support Staff Associate AD/Business Affairs
UAB Administration Andy Hollis TEAM INFORMATION
Conference USA Associate AD/Compliance Conference Record/Finish t th of
Chad Jackson Letterwinners Returning/Lost /
CALL US UAB Associate AD/Marketing Newcomers
Sam Miller
The University of Alabama at Associate AD/Media Relations COACHING STAFF
Birmingham (UAB) has been an Norm Reilly Head Coach Ray Stanfield
autonomous member of the University of Associate AD/Ticket Operations and Football Alma Mater/Year Mid America Bible
Administration
Alabama system since and has had an College/
Matt Wildt
intercollegiate athletic program since Cross Country Office ( )
Assistant AD/Academic Affairs
UAB is sometimes confused with the Tony Dollison Stanfields’s E mail rstan@uab edu
University of Alabama (Crimson Tide) Assistant AD/Athletic Training Assistant Coach Andy Eggerth
which is located in Tuscaloosa; while this is Mike Jones Alma Mater/Year Bemidji State/
GENERAL INFORMATION
inevitable it is important to note that the Assistant AD/Business Affairs Eggerth’s Office Phone ( )
two are indeed separate institutions Dave Henze Eggerth’s E mail aeggerth@uab edu
In addition the UAB name is often Assistant AD/External Affairs Assistant Coach Agne Eggerth
altered by various media opponents mer E J Brophy Alma Mater/Year McKendree/
chandisers etc Assistant AD/Facilities Eggerth’s Office Phone ( )
Please note that there are only two cor Reid Adair Eggerth’s E mail agaeggerth@uab edu
rect versions of our name the acronym Assistant AD/Media Relations
“UAB ” or the full “University of Alabama at Katie O’Brien
Birmingham ” In addition the Associated Director of Physical Development
Stacey Torman
CREDITS
Press sports stylebook now uses UAB on The women’s cross country media
Equipment Manager
first reference not Alabama Birmingham guide is an official production of the UAB
Tony Ramirez
Media Relations Office The guide was
We Are: ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS designed written and edited by Jennifer
UAB Assistant AD/Media Relations Reid and Katie O’Brien Editorial assistance
University of Alabama at Norm Reilly provided by Ray Stanfield and Norm Reilly
Birmingham e mail: nreilly@uab edu Special thanks goes to Cindy Powell as well
Assistant AD/Media Relations as Ashley Fleming and Steve Wood for their
We are not : Cross Country Contact photography “UAB At A Glance” section
Alabama Birmingham Ala Katie O’Brien designed by UAB Creative Services Printed
Birmingham UA Birmingham or e mail: kobrien@uab edu by UAB Printing services
UAB Assistant Media Relations Directors
Jason Falls
e mail: jfalls@uab edu
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Jeremy Hoffman
(UAB) administers its educational programs email: jhoffman@uab edu
and activities including admission with Media Relations Assistant
out regard to race color religion sex age Chris Deal
national origin handicap or Vietnam era or email: cdeal@uab edu
disabled veteran status (Title IX of the
UAB ATHLETIC MAILING ADDRESS:
Education Amendments of specifically
Bartow Arena rd Ave South
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex) Birmingham Ala
Direct inquiries to the UAB Affirmative
Action Officer Birmingham AL OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ADDRESS:
th Street South (Bartow Arena)
Birmingham Ala
2005 BLAZERS q 1
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
RAY THE STANFIELD FILE
STANFIELD EDUCATION:
Mid America Bible College
Bachelor of Arts Secondary Education
Head Coach Sam Houston State
Master degree Physical Education
Fourth Year
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Northwest Academy HS Texas
Ray Stanfield who has spent more than years coach (assistant Basketball and Football)
ing track and field in the college and high school ranks is in Broadway Baptist HS Texas
his fourth year at the helm of UAB’s track and field and (head Basketball and Track)
cross country programs Saint Pius X HS Texas
In UAB’s cross country team continued to per (head track and basketball football assistant)
form at the standard of excellence that Stanfield has set Rice University
The Blazers finished ninth at the NCAA South Region (assistant track coach)
Championships after a third place finish at the Conference Sam Houston State
USA Championships The third place finish was the best in (head cross country assistant track)
school history Sophomore Elizabeth Ambrus was named Huntsville HS Texas
first team All Conference USA after finishing third overall (head coach)
in the meet Ambrus was also named C USA Cross Country McNeese State
HEAD COACH RAY STANFIELD
Female Athlete of the Week for the weeks of Sept and (head coach)
Sept during the season Additionally freshman Corrigan Camden HS Texas
Elizabeth Hilligoss was named to the All Conference USA (head coach)
second team at the C USA Championships as well as being Crockett HS Texas
named C USA Freshman of the Year Hilligoss also earned a (head coach)
spot on the all Canton HS Texas
region team after (head coach)
a rd place finish Samford University
overall at the (assistant coach)
NCAA South present UAB
R e g i o n (head coach)
Championships
In PERSONAL:
the Blazers Wife the former Patricia Conway
recorded their Children Tori and Tyler (twins)
highest ever fin placing ninth overall at the championships UAB also fin
ish at the ished in a tie for th at the NCAA South Region
Conference USA Championships Kara was the Blazers’ highest finisher in
Championships the meet placing st
as they placed in a In his first season at the helm his team garnered
tie for fourth national recognition as an Academic All American team and
overall What received the Conference USA Academic Award for having
made the feat the highest GPA
even more Stanfield has coached Olympians All Americans and
impressive was NCAA Champions and has also earned Coach of the Year
the fact that UAB honors in Texas and Louisiana
had newcomers Stanfield has been nationally recognized as an out
and only two sen standing recruiter while coaching at Rice McNeese Sam
iors on the team Houston and Samford He has signed numerous state
Senior Amanda champions and high school All Americans
Kara was named Stanfield began his coaching career in at the high
to the all confer school level He spent seven years as a high school coach in
ence team after
2005 BLAZERS q 2
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
QUOTING COACH STANFIELD scholarship He was all conference three times in basket
ball and an All American as a senior
On UAB: “What a great university we have with the aca Stanfield still competes in road races and Master’s
demic programs already in place and the guidance of the events in track He was the Master’s Southeast Region
athletic department under Watson Brown The sky is the Champion in He has also completed
limit for UAB ” marathons
Stanfield is married to the former Patricia Conway of
On the Student Athlete: “Academics are very important Houston They have two children (twins): Tori a junior at
to me going back to my years at Rice I have seen the Carson Newman and Tyler a junior at Samford Tyler is
importance of being a great student An athlete can only currently training as a professional tri athlete Tyler spent
run for so long then their degree must carry them on ” his first two seasons at Alabama where he was an All SEC
performer in track in and the Freshman of the
Texas While at Canton (Texas) High School he was named Year for the South Region in Cross Country He also spent
the state's U S Running Cross Country Coach of the the season at Houston where he finished second
Year after leading his team to the Texas State at the Conference USA Cross Country championships and
Championship Previous high school coaching experience helped the Cougars win the C USA cross country
for Stanfield includes head coach at Crockett High School indoor and outdoor championships
( ) head coach at Corrigan Camden High School
( ) and head coach at Huntsville High School (
) Stanfield has led his teams to numerous high school
state championships
In Stanfield became the assistant coach at Rice
HEAD COACH RAY STANFIELD
University coaching the meters and down and the
x and x meter relay teams Under his tutelage
two Owl relay teams finished as runners up at the NCAA
Championships in and His meter relay team
placed second in while his indoor mile relay team
placed third in While at Rice he also coached
Canadian Olympian Courtney Brown as well as Jamaican
Olympian and two time meter NCAA
Champion Gawain Guy Also two of his sprint
ers were Olympic Trials finalists Elliston
Stinson and Steven Hall ( )
Stanfield has also coached collegiately at
McNeese State (head coach ) Sam
Houston State (assistant coach ) and
Samford University (assistant coach )
While at McNeese State his women’s team won
the Louisiana Collegiate Championship in
Stanfield received his degree in secondary
education in from Mid America Bible
College in Oklahoma City He later earned a
Masters degree in Kinesiology at Sam Houston
State in Stanfield began his college career
as a student at Hardin Simmons on a basketball
COACH STANFIELD CROSS COUNTRY YEAR BY YEAR AT UAB
Conference Finish th out of Conference Finish rd out of
NCAA Regional Finish th out of NCAA Regional Finish th out of
All Region Athletes
All Conference Athletes
Conference Finish T th out of Other Individual Honors
NCAA Regional Finish th out of Elizabeth Hilligoss C USA Freshman of the Year
All Conference Athletes Elizabeth Ambrus C USA Athlete of the week (twice)
2005 BLAZERS q 3
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
ANDY AGNE
EGGERTH EGGERTH
Assistant Coach Assistant Coach
Third Year First Year
Andy Eggerth is in his third season as an assistant track and Agne Eggerth enters her first year as a an assistant track and
field coach at UAB After spending two years working with the field coach at UAB after working for two years as a volunteer
sprinters and jumpers Eggerth will also work with the Blazer hur assistant coach for the Blazers Eggerth who worked with the
dlers and multi event athletes as well as some recruiting compli Blazer sprinters as a volunteer coach will devote her time the
ance and travel duties sprinters and relay teams
During his second season with the Blazers he helped his ath Eggerth is a two time member of the Lithuanian Olympic
letes achieve nine school records and four freshman records He team She has competed as a sprinter in the European
coached one NCAA Indoor Championship provisional qualifier and Championships in addition to four World Championships earning
six NCAA Regional Championship qualifiers during outdoor places on the Olympic teams that participated in Sydney and
Eggerth also guided his athletes to indoor personal bests and Athens
outdoor personal bests She is a time Lithuanian National Champion and currently
ASSISTANT COACHES & SUPPORT STAFF
Eggerth's first season with the Blazers was a breakout year holds her country's records in the and meters
for the sprinters and jumpers He coached four Southeast Region Eggerth is a graduate of McKendree College (Illinois) with a
finalists and guided his athletes to four school records and three Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education While at
freshman records Eggerth also helped his athletes achieve per McKendree state she was an NAIA national champion times and
sonal bests during the indoor season and personal bests during the NAIA Athlete of the Year twice She is still the NAIA national
the outdoor season record holder in the meter dash and the meter dash
Additionally Eggerth has worked with post collegians that Eggerth originally from Kaunas Lithuania currently resides
have competed in the Pan American Games European in Birmingham with her husband Andy Eggerth
Championships World Championships and the Olympic Games
He has guided athletes to several National Championships and
national records
Prior to arriving at UAB Eggerth was the Track and Field
Director for two years at the National Sports Center (NSC) in
Blaine Minnesota At the NSC he managed a track club of near
ly athletes Beyond organizing meets planning the budget
hiring assistant coaches and recruiting athletes Eggerth also
coached the sprinters and hurdlers at the NSC
SUPPORT STAFF
Before taking the helm at the NSC Eggerth completed his
Masters degree in Exercise Physiology at Syracuse University
There he also worked with the sprinters and hurdlers as well as TRACY
JOHNSON
participating in post collegiate events
Eggerth is a graduate of Bemidji State University
(Minnesota) in earning a Bachelor of Science degree in
Physical Education as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport
Management While at Bemidji he broke school records one Athletic Trainer
conference record was an NCAA national qualifier in six events
and was voted the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Year
Athlete of the Year in He was also an Academic All
American in addition to receiving other academic honors
Eggerth who hails from Spring Lake Park Minnesota cur
rently resides in Birmingham with his wife of two years Agne KATIE
Eggerth
O’BRIEN
Media Relations
Third Year
2005 BLAZERS q 4
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
2005 ROSTER
NAME CLASS EXP. HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL)
Elizabeth Ambrus Junior L Arlington Heights Ill (Rolling Meadows HS)
Ryanne Fortney Junior L Central City Ky (Muhlenberg North HS)
Tara Gruber Freshman HS Flower Mound Texas (Flower Mound Marcus HS)
Elizabeth Hilligoss Sophomore L Houston Texas (Stratford HS)
Whitney Mays Sophomore L Bloomington Ill (Bloomington HS)
Tracy Rowan Freshman HS Birmingham Ala (Clay Chalkville HS)
Abby Speights Freshman HS Ruston La (Ruston HS)
Katie Stepp Freshman HS Allentown Pa (Parkland HS)
Jennifer Thompson Junior L Arab Ala (Arab HS)
Jakia Williams Freshman HS Ruston La (Ruston HS)
Head Coach: Ray Stanfield (Mid America Bible College ‘ )
Assistant Coaches: Andy Eggerth (Bemidji State ‘ )
2005 ROSTER & SCHEDULE
Agne Eggerth (McKedree College ‘ )
2005 SCHEDULE
DAY DATE EVENT LOCATION
Friday September Belmont Opener Nashville Tenn
Friday September Memphis Nighttime Classic Memphis Tenn
Saturday September Alabama Crimson Classic Tuscaloosa Ala
Friday September Notre Dame Invitational South Bend Ind
Saturday October Brooks Pre National Meet Terre Haute Ind
Sunday October Conference USA Championships New Orleans La
Saturday November South Region Championships Gainesville Fla
Monday November NCAA Championships Terre Haute Ind
2005 BLAZERS q 5
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
After its best showing in school history at the Conference tials They've been state
USA Championships last fall the UAB cross country team has rea champions and on champi
son for optimism The Blazers are looking to build on their suc onship teams Besides bring
cessful season when UAB finished third at the C USA ing talent and the individual
Championships and ninth at the NCAA South Region ability to run fast they all
Championships come from great programs
The Blazers return their top five runners from and have and they bring winning atti
added five talented freshmen to the team UAB returns All tudes Tara Gruber comes
Conference USA runners junior Elizabeth Ambrus and sophomore from Flower Mound Marcus
Elizabeth Hilligoss who was also the C USA Freshman of one of the outstanding pro
the Year and a member of the NCAA All South Region Team grams in the southeast
The team is young with no seniors and only three jun They do a great job and she
iors but head coach Ray Stanfield says that the team is experi went to the state champi
enced Stanfield sat down before the start of the season to onship in cross country all of
talk about the Blazers Here’s what he had to say: her four years in high school
She comes with a great team
On the season: “We rebound off a great cross country season attitude and a winning atti
especially since we were so young Our top seven last year were tude Abby Speights and
four freshmen and three sophomores We finished third in cross Jakia Williams ran at Ruston
country in the conference and were only six points out of second High School for Dave
Then they ran tremendously at the regional championships and Anderson who's considered
had the mishap with Elizabeth Ambrus not happened we would one of the top high school
have been fourth in the region and she would have been an indi coaches in the United States
vidual qualifier for the national championships That not only They lost the Louisiana State Elizabeth Ambrus
bothers us as a team but it really bothers her I think she's been Championship by two points
doing everything she can to qualify this year and that's going to in cross country and they were second and third individually
show this season We're going to line up to win the Conference They were state champions in outdoor track as a team so they
USA Championship We're going to lose some good teams in the bring that same attitude of wanting to win as a team Katie Stepp
2005 PREVIEW
conference but some of the new schools that are coming in have from Allentown Pennsylvania was on a Parkland High School
very good teams SMU finished in the top in the nation in cross team that was ranked in the top in the nation at one time so
country They're always going to be good as will Rice I feel like she's also used to being at a program that wins Having runners
with the girls that we have and the experience our returners have who line up expecting the whole team to do well is one of the
we can challenge to win the conference Our next goal is to get things that breads success ”
to the NCAA Championships to be top two in our Region I think
that's a realistic goal; Tennessee and Georgia went last year but On the schedule: “I'm changing the schedule up a little bit We're
we were right there with them If we don't have problems with going to go back to Alabama for the Crimson Classic and instead
injuries and the freshman come in and compete the way I think of going to the Chile Pepper Invitational we're going to go to the
they will then we'll be in the hunt come November I think Pre National meet which is held at Indiana State on the NCAA
there's going to be a battle for the top seven spots We can only National Course I feel like they need to see that course because
take seven to conference but we're going to run everyone up we want to be running on that course again on the Monday
until then and there's going to be a lot of competition among before Thanksgiving at the NCAA Championships We'll go back
these women which is a good thing ” to Notre Dame and our Conference Championship will be at
Tulane The schedule is good and barring injuries this will be the
On the returners: "I guess when I start talking about cross coun best team that I've lined up since I've been here and we've had
try the first thing I think about is Elizabeth Ambrus We're obvi some pretty good teams the last couple of years I've said that
ously led by Elizabeth but I hesitate to use the word obviously cross country is the ultimate team sport because every runner
because I really feel like she's going to have some company this counts A team can have runners finish in each of the top four
year including Elizabeth Hilligoss Hilligoss had an incredible spots but if that fifth runner finishes th then the team is not
freshman year in cross country and indoor track We redshirted going to do well I'm excited about what we've got coming in
her for the outdoor season I really feel like we're going to have a The schedule is good and we're put in a position to run against
very strong punch with the two Elizabeth's Then we won't be some of the best runners in the nation like we did last year at
too far behind with another group Whitney Mays had a great Notre Dame and we'll do it again at the Pre National meet and
finish in cross country and then had a tremendous outdoor season our conference is going to be tough ”
as a freshman Of course we have Jennifer Thompson and
Ryanne Fortney who are very solid runners I know what to
expect out of them they've continued to get better with each
year ”
On the freshmen: “We bring in four freshmen who coming out
of high school are probably the most talented freshmen that I've
signed That doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be better
than anybody is or was but they come in with very good creden
2005 BLAZERS q 6
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
ELIZABETH RYANNE
AMBRUS FORTNEY
Junior L Junior L
Arlington Heights Ill Central City Ky
Rolling Meadows HS Muhlenberg North HS
All-Conference - 2004 UAB Blazers
: Named first team All Conference USA after a third : Highest finish of the season was ninth place in the K
place finish in the C USA Championships with a time of : at the Old Timers Classic where she ran a personal best time
in the K race the only athlete to be named Conference of : set a personal best in the K at the Belmont
USA’s Cross Country Female Athlete of the Week twice dur Invitational with a time of : placing th tallied a
ing season receiving the honor for the weeks of Sept and personal best at the Memphis Twilight Classic finishing th
Sept won both the Memphis Twilight Classic with a per with a three mile time of : also ran a personal best
sonal best time of : for the three mile race and the Old in the K at the Chile Pepper Invitational with a time of
Timers Classic with a personal best K time of : was : finished nd at the C USA Championships helping
UAB’s top finisher in six meets during the season set a per UAB place third in the meet was consistently one of UAB’s
sonal best in the K at the Belmont Invitational with a time top five finishers
of : finishing third finished ninth at the Chili Pepper
Invitational with personal best time of : in the K : Had a top finish at the UAH/Serra Toyota
Invitational placing ninth overall with a personal best time
: Highest finish of the season came at the UAH/Serra of : in the event also tallied a personal best in the K
2005 BLAZERS
Toyota Invitational when she placed seventh overall in the K at the NCAA South Region with a time of : placed
run with a time of : helped UAB to its best ever fin rd at the Conference USA Championship to help lead UAB
ish at the C USA Championships with a then personal best to its best ever finish in the event had a great freshman
time of : in the K run and a th place finish set a campaign as she steadily finished in the top five for UAB
new personal best in the K with a run of : at the
South Region Championships also set a personal best in the High School: First team all state for six years in cross country
K with a time of : at the Notre Dame Cross Country was selected to run in Spain for Team USA in the World
Invitational Sports Exchange in three time cross country regional
runner up named first team academic all state all four
High School: Four year letterwinner at Rolling Meadows in years of high school in cross country was class valedictori
cross country and track cross country all conference in an received the Senior Class Citizenship Award ran track
as well as a qualifier for the state cross country meet and also played basketball and golf for Muhlenberg North
member of the National Honor Society Honor Roll and coached by John Lovell in cross country
Yearbook Staff IHSA All Academic Senior Athletic Award
recipient coached by Jim Voyles Personal: Full name is Ryanne Danielle Fortney born
October daughter of Mark and Debbie Fortney
Personal: Full name is Elizabeth Jennifer Ambrus born has twin siblings Jacob and Jillian majoring in elementary
December daughter of Sandy and John Ambrus education
has one brother John majoring in biology
FORTNEY’S PERSONAL BESTS
AMBRUS’ PERSONAL BESTS miles : (Belmont Invitational / / )
miles : (Belmont Invitational / / ) K : (Belmont Invitational / / )
K : (Belmont Invitational / / ) miles : (Memphis Twilight Classic / / )
miles : (Memphis Twilight Classic / / ) K : (Old Timers Classic / / )
K : ( Old Timers Classic / / ) K : (Chile Pepper Invitational / / )
K : (Chile Pepper Invitational / / )
2005 BLAZERS q 7
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
TARA ( ) team MVP in
David Jantzen and Al Lawrence
and was coached by
won honor awards at
GRUBER
Stratford in World Geography Journalism Desktop
Publishing English II Latin III Physics and Aquatic Science
graduated Cum Laude was a Cum Laude Latin Scholar as
well as a member of the National Honor Society
Freshman HS
Personal: Full name is Elizabeth Hilligoss born March
Flower Mound Texas daughter of Ed and Denise Hilligoss has two sisters;
Emily and Carrie majoring in early childhood education
Marcus HS
HILLIGOSS’ PERSONAL BESTS
UAB Blazers K : (Belmont Invitational / / )
miles : (Memphis Twilight Classic / / )
High School: A four year letterwinner for Steve Telaneus at
K : (Notre Dame Invitational / / )
Marcus High School named to the Texas Girls Coaches
K : (Chile Pepper Invitational / / )
Association Cross Country All State Team in and
district champion in and named to the all area
team in and as well as the
of the Year member of the National Honor Society
Newcomer
WHITNEY
Personal: Full name is Tara JoAnn Gruber born June
daughter of David and Staci Gruber has a brother
Timothy and a sister Julia majoring in criminal justice
MAYS
Sophomore L
ELIZABETH Bloomington Ill
HILLIGOSS Bloomington HS
2005 BLAZERS
UAB Blazers
Sophomore L : Ran in all seven meets for the Blazers placed th at
Houston Texas the Old Timers Classic with a personal best time of :
in the K helped UAB take third as she finished th at the
Stratford HS Conference USA Championships with a K time of :
placed th at the NCAA South Region Championships with a
All-Conference - 2004 personal best time : in the K had a personal best in
All-Region - 2004 the K with a time of : at the Belmont Invitational
finished th at the Memphis Twilight Classic with a person
: Was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year al best three mile time of : had a great freshman
and earned a spot on the All Conference Team following a season with the Blazers and was steadily among UAB’s top
seventh place finish at the C USA Championships with a K five finishers
time of : named to the All South Region Team follow
ing a rd place finish in the K with a time of : at the High School: Was the first ever four year girls cross country
NCAA South Region Championships tallied her highest fin state qualifier for Bloomington HS regional champion on
ish of the season at the Old Timers Classic where she placed was the Big conference champion in was a
fifth with a K time of : ran a personal best in the K four year letterwinnner for Bloomington coached by Aaron
with a time of : at the Belmont Invitational where she Culbertson and John Szabo was also a member of the track
placed th also had a personal best in the K at the Notre team cheerleading squad and dance team made the honor
Dame Invitational with a : placed nd at the Chile roll her senior year
Pepper Invitational following a personal best in the K with a
time of : had a personal best at the Memphis Personal: Full name is Whitney Mays born July
Twilight Classic where she finished th with a three mile daughter of Bill and Nancy Mays has two younger sisters;
time of : had a strong freshman campaign and was Mackenzie and Taylor undecided on a major
consistently the number two runner for UAB
MAYS’ PERSONAL BESTS
High School: Was all state in and All Greater Houston K : (Belmont Invitational / / )
miles : (Memphis Twilight Classic / / )
in and named all district three times ( )
K : (Old Timers Classic / / )
district champion in and as well as being a
K : (NCAA South Regional / / )
region runner up in was a two time state qualifier
2005 BLAZERS q 8
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
TRACY KATIE
ROWAN STEPP
Freshman HS Freshman HS
Birmingham Ala Allentown Pa
Clay Chalkville HS Parkland HS
UAB Blazers UAB Blazers
High School: Attended Clay Chalkville High School in Pinson High School: A four year letterwinner at Parkland High
Ala a four year all county cross country team member and School a four time Pennsylvania State Championship
a three year state championship qualifier coached by Qualifier named team captain for the season fin
Shuntay Byrd Bob Adams and Mike Howard also a mem ished th at the Pennsylvania State Championships
ber of the gymnastics team was a member of the National helping her team finished second overall Parkland won the
Honor Society and was a Birmingham News Scholar Athlete League Championships and was ranked seventh in the
Northeast finished eighth overall at the District
Personal: Full name is Tracy Rowan … born April in Championships in and was third in the League
Winston Salem N C … daughter of Allen and Donna Rowan Championships was named a League All Star by area coach
… has a younger sister Jaimie … majoring in history es in and also a member of the National
ABBY Honor Society
Personal: Full name is Katherine Joyce Stepp born June
SPEIGHTS daughter of Bill and Tami Stepp has an older sister
2005 BLAZERS
Cortney Bates and a younger brother Tim majoring in mar
keting
Freshman HS
Ruston La
2005 TEAM BREAKDOWN
By State
Ruston HS
Alabama ( ) Tracy Rowan (Birmingham) Jennifer Thompson
UAB Blazers (Arab)
High School: Attended Ruston High School in Ruston La Illinois ( ) Elizabeth Ambrus (Arlington Heights) Whitney
where she ran for coach Dave Anderson was named to the Mays (Bloomington)
composite all state team for three straight years placed
third at the Louisiana State Cross Country Championship Kentucky ( ) Ryanne Fortney (Central City)
finished in the top five at the Chile Pepper Invitational in
helping her team to win the meet also named Who’s Louisiana ( ) Abby Speights (Ruston) Jakia Williams
Who Among American High School Students (Ruston)
Personal: Full name is Abigail Christine Speights born Pennsylvania ( ) Katie Stepp (Allentown)
October in Shreveport La daughter of Karen
Speights and Gary Speights has a brother Adam ( ) and Texas ( ) Tara Gruber (Flower Mound) Elizabeth Hilligoss
two sisters Rachel ( ) and Callie ( ) majoring in elemen (Houston)
tary education By Class
Seniors ( )
Juniors ( ) Elizabeth Ambrus Ryanne Fortney Jennifer
Thompson
Sophomores ( ) Elizabeth Hilligoss Whitney Mays
Freshmen ( ) Tara Gruber Tracy Rowan Abby Speights
Katie Stepp Jakia Williams
2005 BLAZERS q 9
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
JENNIFER JAKIA
THOMPSON WILLIAMS
Junior L Freshman HS
Arab Ala Ruston La
Arab HS Ruston HS
UAB Blazers UAB Blazers
: Was among the top five performers for the Blazers High School: Attended Ruston High School in Ruston La
finished sixth at the Old Timers Classic with a personal best named to all state and all district cross country team in
time of : in the K helped the Blazers to their best finished second at the Louisiana state cross country cham
finish ever at the Conference USA Championships placing pionships and third at the Chile Pepper Invitational earned
th with a time of : in the K took th at the NCAA Academic All State honors for cross country in also
South Region Championships with a K time of : named Who’s Who Among American High School Students
had a personal best in the K at the Chile Pepper Invitational
with a time of : placed th at the Belmont Personal: Full name is Jakia Schuntrice Williams born July
Invitational with a personal best time of : in the K mother is Sandra Williams and father is Derrick
ran a personal best at the Memphis Twilight Classic with a Smith has a younger sister Janiesia ( ) and a younger
three mile time of : and a th place finish brother JaDerian ( ) majoring in medical technology
: Ran in all seven meets for the Blazers finished third
at the UAH/Serra Toyota Invitational with a time of : in
2005 BLAZERS
the K event set a personal best in the K at the Notre
Dame Cross Country Invitational by running a : good for
th overall recorded her personal best in the K at the
Conference USA Championships running a time of :
and placing th in the meet consistent top three per
former for the Blazers
High School: Was a three time A Alabama State Cross
Country championship was third in the A Alabama
State Cross Country championship three time all academic
for cross country also lettered in track and basketball
winner of the Physical Science Award Healthcare Science and
Technology Award and Most Athletic Award was second
alternate at the Miss Arab High School event
Personal: Full name is Jennifer Nicole Thompson born
November daughter of Sharon and Johnny
Thompson has an older brother Justin majoring in biol
ogy
THOMPSON’S PERSONAL BESTS
miles : (Belmont Invitational / / )
K : (Belmont Invitational / / )
miles : (Memphis Twilight Classic / / )
K : (Old Timers Classic / / )
K : (Chile Pepper Invitational / / )
Jennifer Thompson
2005 BLAZERS q 10
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
UAB Wraps Up Strong Season By Finishing Ninth At South the second consecutive
Regionals: The Blazers ended their season with a ninth meet running the K
place finish at the NCAA South Region Championships on Nov event in :
Freshman Elizabeth Hilligoss was the Blazers' top finisher as Ambrus also captured
her time of : in the K race placed her rd overall the individual title as
Hilligoss also earned a spot on the all region team UAB's top she led the Blazer cross
runner sophomore Elizabeth Ambrus was disqualified from the country team to a sec
race for running off the course Ambrus was in third place with ond place finish on Sept
under meters to go when the error occurred The top four at the Memphis Twi
individual finishers qualify for Nationals Freshman Whitney Light Cross Country
Mays placed th overall with a time of : while sopho Classic
more Jennifer Thompson was th running the race in :
Sophomore Ryanne Fortney finished th completing the course Blazers Win Old Timers
in : Classic: UAB placed six
runners in the top as
Blazers Place Third At Conference USA Championships: UAB the Blazers took first
recorded the best finish in Blazer history at the Conference USA place in rd annual Old
championships with a third place finish on Oct Elizabeth Timers Classic in
Ambrus was UAB's top finisher placing third with a time of Bowling Green Ky The
: in the K race while Elizabeth Hilligoss tallied a seventh Blazers were led by
place finish recording a time of : UAB's other freshman sophomore Elizabeth
Whitney Mays placed th finishing the course in : Ambrus who took the
Sophomore Jennifer Thompson was th tallying a time of : individual title for the
Elizabeth Ambrus
Sophomore Ryanne Fortney placed nd overall pacing a time of second consecutive meet Ambrus claimed the title in the K
: UAB's final two finishers were Petra Ivanova who placed event with a time of : Her time was the fifth fastest time
th ( : ) and Genoah Collins who finished in th place in the history of the event held at Kaerinekas Park since
( : ) The Blazers recorded points in the contest to finish Freshman Elizabeth Hilligoss ( : ) was fourth overall while
only eight points behind second place TCU's points sophomore Jennifer Thompson ( : ) placed fifth
2004 REVIEW
Sophomore Ryanne Fortney ( : ) was eighth Freshmen
Two Blazers Receive Recognition At Conference Championships: Petra Ivanova ( : ) and Whitney Mays ( : ) placed
At the Conference USA Championships two UAB runners th and th respectively The Blazers took the team title with
received special recognition Elizabeth Hilligoss was named the points better than second place Eastern Kentucky's
C USA Freshman of the Year for her outstanding efforts for
the Blazers Hilligoss had been the Blazers’ second best runner Blazers Place Second In Memphis: Elizabeth Ambrus captured
throughout the season as she was UAB’s second finisher in each the individual title as she led the Blazers to a second place finish
of the last four meets of the season including the C USA at the Memphis Twi Light Cross Country Classic Ambrus ran a
Championships Additionally Hilligoss was named to the All time of : to beat runner up Katarina Lovrantova of
Conference USA second team Elizabeth Ambrus also was named Arkansas Little Rock ( : ) in the individual standings UAB
First Team All Conference USA Ambrus was UAB’s top finisher ( points) finished just behind Mississippi State ( ) in the team
in all six meets last sea standings The Blazers also got a th place performance from
son sophomore Jennifer Thompson ( : ) and a th place effort
from freshman Petra Ivanova ( : ) Also finishing in the
Ambrus Named C USA’s top were sophomore Ryanne Fortney at : and fresh
Cross Country Female man Elizabeth Hilligoss at :
Athlete Of The Week
for Two Straight UAB Young But Experienced: UAB replaced its top two runners
Weeks: Sophomore from including all conference performer Amanda Kara
Elizabeth Ambrus was However the Blazers had a much more experienced group than
named Conference in UAB had newcomers in most of whom got sig
USA’s Cross Country nificant experience The Blazers looked to returners Elizabeth
Female Athlete of the Ambrus Adel Anderson Elizabeth Anderson Ryanne Fortney
Week for two straight Maureen McDonald Jennifer Thompson and Mary Kim Webb to
weeks as she received improve on their performances Ambrus Fortney and
the award for the weeks Thompson all ran for UAB in the conference champi
of Sept and Sept onships
Ambrus won the
Old Timers Classic in
Bowling Green Ky
helping the Blazers to
the team title She took
the individual title for
Elizabeth Hilligoss
2005 BLAZERS q 11
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
ELIZABETH AMBRUS WHITNEY MAYS
Date Distance Time Place Event Date Distance Time Place Event
/ / K : * rd of Belmont Invitational / / K : * th of Belmont Invitational
/ / miles : * st of Memphis Twilight Classic / / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic
/ / K : * st of Old Timers Classic / / K : * th of Old Timers Classic
/ / K : rd of Notre Dame Invitational / / K : rd of Notre Dame Invitational
/ / K : * th of Chile Pepper Invitational / / K : st of Chile Pepper Invitational
/ / K : rd of C USA Championships / / K : th of C USA Championships
/ / K : * th of NCAA South Regional
ELIZABETH ANDERSON
Date Distance Time Place Event
MAUREEN MCDONALD
/ / K : * th of Belmont Invitational Date Distance Time Place Event
/ / K : * th of Belmont Invitational
GENOAH COLLINS
Date Distance Time Place Event
JENNIFER THOMPSON
/ / K : * th of Belmont Invitational Date Distance Time Place Event
/ / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic / / K : * th of Belmont Invitational
/ / K : * th of Old Timers Classic / / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic
/ / K : th of C USA Championships / / K : * th of Old Timers Classic
/ / K : * rd of NCAA South Regional / / K : th of Notre Dame Invitational
/ / K : * nd of Chile Pepper Invitational
/ / K : th of C USA Championships
RYANNE FORTNEY / / K : th of NCAA South Regional
Date Distance Time Place Event
/ /
/ /
K
miles
:
:
*
*
th of
th of
Belmont Invitational
Memphis Twilight Classic
CHRISTI WALTON
/ / K : * th of Old Timers Classic Date Distance Time Place Event
/ / K : th of Notre Dame Invitational / / K : * th of Belmont Invitational
/ / K : * th of Chile Pepper Invitational / / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic
2004 RESULTS
/ / K : nd of C USA Championships / / K : * th of Old Timers Classic
/ / K : th of NCAA South Regional
MARY KIM WEBB
ELIZABETH HILLIGOSS Date Distance Time Place Event
Date Distance Time Place Event / / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic
/ / K : * th of Belmont Invitational
/ / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic * Personal Best
/ / K : th of Old Timers Classic
/ / K : * th of Notre Dame Invitational
/ / K : * nd of Chile Pepper Invitational
/ / K : th of C USA Championships
/ / K : rd of NCAA South Regional
PETRA IVANOVA
Date Distance Time Place Event
/ / K : * th of Belmont Invitational
/ / miles : * th of Memphis Twilight Classic
/ / K : * th of Old Timers Classic
/ / K : th of Notre Dame Invitational
/ / K : rd of Chile Pepper Invitational
/ / K : th of C USA Championships
/ / K : * nd of NCAA South Regional
Blazers Meet-by-Meet
Date Distance Average Time Total Time Place Event Location
/ / K : : : th of Belmont Invitational Nashville Tenn
/ / miles : : : nd of Memphis Twilight Classic Memphis Tenn
/ / K : : : st of Old Timers Classic Bowling Green Ky
/ / K : : : th of Notre Dame Invitational South Bend Ind
/ / K : : : th of Chile Pepper Invitational Fayetteville Ark
/ / K : : : rd of Conference USA Championships Chicago Ill
/ / K : : : th of NCAA South Regional Tuscaloosa Ala
2005 BLAZERS q 12
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
Greatest Distance Runners in UAB History
Christie Caywood ( ): Three school records Tracey Priska ( ): One school record; three
time all conference cross country; k and
Jill Faulkner ( ): All conference cross coun k Conference champion
try; former school record holder in three individ
ual events ( k k) Donna Pucke ( ): Hold UAB’s freshman
record for the outdoor m; was named all con
Beth Groom ( ): Two individual school ference in m outdoor; holds school record for
records; three time all conference cross country; indoor m; was named all conference three
k conference champion Is currently the head times
track coach at Pelham High in metro
Birmingham Andrea Ripley ( ): Three individual school
records; four time all conference cross country;
Melissa Hopkins ( ): NCAA cross country conference cross country champion;
qualifier ; two school records (relays); two indoor k champion
time all conference cross country two time all
region cross country Currently is a professional Lori Usrey ( ): Eight school records (five
triathlete who resides in Birmingham individual three relay); all conference cross
UAB’S GREATEST RUNNERS
country all distance cross country conference
Carla Kelly ( ): Four school records (two runner up in mile in
relays two freshman); ranks No indoor and
outdoor all time m
Lori Usrey Melissa Hopkins
2005 BLAZERS q 13
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
ACADEMIC SUPPORT ATHLETIC TRAINING
SERVICES Athletic Trainers are health care
providers who specialize in the preven
UAB Associate Athletic tion assessment treatment and rehabil
Director for Academic Sup itation of injuries and illnesses that
port Services Judy Sackfield occur to athletes and the physically
and her staff are responsible active Unfortunately athletic injuries
for overseeing the education are a fact of life in college athletics
al development and progress Over the years tremendous strides have
towards graduation for all student athletes been made in the evaluation treatment
The staff acts as a liaison between the student athlete and the and the rehabilitation of athletic
academic communities and insures that student athletes comply injuries; and with it the realm of sports
with academic rules established by the university the NCAA and medicine has developed into a full
Conference USA The staff also coordinates academic programs fledged medical specialty
designed to assist the student athletes in acquiring a quality educa At UAB the student athlete is sure to be just minutes away
tion as well as programs to promote personal and career develop from the best medical care possible This is achieved with the com
ment bined resources of a world class medical center medical school and
The Academic Center for Athletes (AC A) program wants to a highly qualified sports medicine team of orthopedic surgeons gen
ensure that student athletes succeed to their highest academic abil eral practitioners and certified athletic trainers
ity and that any possible educational disadvantages resulting from The first line of defense is the athletic training staff led by head
their participation in intercollegiate sports are offset Inherent in athletic trainer Mike Jones MAE ATC/L NREMT I Jones is assisted
the program is the philosophy that student athletes take responsibil by three assistant athletic trainers Bryan Koch oversees men’s
ity for their own growth and development while receiving maximum sports and is the primary trainer for the men’s basketball program;
support The academic unit’s goals are to prepare student athletes Bryan Combs is the assistant athletic trainer for the football pro
for viable careers to assist them in securing degrees and to produce gram; while Tanya Watson is in charge of women’s sports and is the
responsible citizens primary athletic trainer for the women’s basketball program The
The AC A is located in the newly renovated Bell Building across assistant athletic trainers assist in the day to day operation of the
from Bartow Arena and is within walking distance from all campus athletic training rooms and care of the entire student athlete popu
dormitories The AC A has a computer lab which has the latest lation The athletic training department also employs nine graduate
SUPPORT STAFF
technology to meet all the student athletes’ needs private and assistant athletic trainers to aid in the coverage of all intercollegiate
group study rooms study halls meeting rooms a writing lab and athletic teams at UAB
math lab The Certified Athletic Trainers at UAB work under the direction
The computer lab is available to all student athletes and is staffed of team physicians Dr Bill Garth a renowned orthopedic surgeon
by a qualified computer support assistant The computer lab offers and Dr Brenda Baumann UAB’s general practitioner Additionally
wireless high speed connection to the Internet as well as access to Dr Baumann is board certified in both emergency medicine and
all programs available from other academic units on campus family practice medicine
The AC A advisors in conjunction with specific major advisors
work with student athletes on necessary requirements for their cho
sen degree The AC A advisors also help plan class schedules keep
STRENGTH AND
ing in mind academic standing practice travel and competition
schedules
CONDITIONING
A special orientation program helps student athletes in their tran UAB Director of Physical Develop
sition from high school to college They learn what is expected of ment Stacey Torman heads up the
them what the university’s responsibility to them is and what Strength and Conditioning Program
adjustments they will need to make in order to succeed The orien for the UAB athletes
tation provides an introduction to UAB during which student ath Each athlete’s program is based on
letes’ questions are answered by coaches faculty administrators and a yearly periodical schedule to prepare
other students her for both optimal improvements in
performance as well as a definite peak
in the competitive season
The phrase “off season” no longer
applies to the world of intercollegiate athletics; today’s student ath
letes must stay fit throughout the year Whether it is to become
more capable for the upcoming season maintain strength flexibility
and cardiovascular conditioning during active competition or to
rehabilitate an injury the competitive student athlete needs a com
prehensive strength and conditioning program
At UAB the strength and conditioning program for soccer is
extremely rigorous and challenging Director of Strength and
Conditioning Stacey Torman and strength coach Marcus Bush com
bine the latest techniques and scientific research with a lot of good
old fashioned hard work in the weight room running track and
the field
2005 BLAZERS q 14
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
DR CAROL GARRISON PRESIDENT
Dr Carol Z Garrison was named president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham in July
She had served as acting president at the University of Louisville where she had served as provost since
As provost she was both chief academic and chief operating officer responsible for the oversight of
all departments and divisions including the medical center
Dr Garrison a native of Montclair N J earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill She received her master’s degree from the School of Nursing at UAB in and earned a
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate from UAB in From she was an assistant professor of
nursing at UAB In she earned a Ph D in epidemiology from the University North Carolina Chapel
Hill where she was an assistant professor
She joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina in was named professor and chair of epidemiology and biostatis
tics in and in became associate provost and dean of the graduate school In she joined the University of Louisville
as provost
In addition to her skills as an administrator Dr Garrison is a respected researcher and educator During her career Dr Garrison
has received more than  million in federal research funding She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Delta Omega and Sigma Xi and
was twice honored as the Carolina Distinguished Professor
As UAB’s sixth president Dr Garrison oversees Alabama’s largest employer with nearly faculty and staff and an operating
budget of  billion UAB attracts some students from around the nation and the world to its six liberal arts and sciences
schools and six health professional schools With nearly  million in sponsored research UAB is among the top universities in
the country in funding from the National Institutes of Health
WATSON BROWN ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
UAB ADMINISTRATION
Now in his th season directing UAB’s football fortunes Watson Brown added an additional role to his
list of responsibilities three years ago — and an important one at that — assuming the position of Director
of Athletics for the Blazers
Named as AD in November of Brown has been working fast and furious to keep the Blazers’ athlet
ic program moving forward in addition to his usual duties at the helm of UAB football
There’s no doubt the progress of UAB football has been impressive Having competed at the NCAA
Division I A level only since the Blazers have been bowl eligible three of the past five seasons finish
ing in and in The Blazers earned their first bowl invitation last season with their appearance in the Sheraton
Hawaii Bowl
Highlighting the recent achievements were a victory at LSU and boasting one of the nation’s top defensive units
UAB has the third best record in Conference USA over the past six seasons and this year’s accomplishments will keep the Blazers
among the league’s top ranking programs over that period
A veteran of years in coaching Brown was the offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma ( ) before coming
to UAB In and Brown was the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State under head coach Jackie Sherrill
Brown also served head coaching stints at Vanderbilt ( ) Rice ( ) Cincinnati ( ) and Austin Peay State (
)
A native of Cookeville Tenn and a former standout quarterback at Vanderbilt Brown is married to the former Brenda Arnold
They have two children: daughter Ginny who was a four year letter winner in basketball at Georgia State University ( )
and son Steven who is a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School
DR JOHNNY SCOTT FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE
Dr Johnny W Scott professor of nuclear medicine and assistant dean of the School of Medicine at UAB
was named faculty athletics representative by former UAB President W Ann Reynolds June
Scott joined the UAB faculty in as an assistant professor of clinical pathology and nuclear medicine
He was promoted to associate professor in and professor in In he was named assistant
dean for the School of Medicine to direct efforts to recruit minority students and faculty to the medical
school
A native of Westfield Ala Scott received his medical degree from the School of Medicine at UAB He
also holds a Ph D in physical chemistry from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and a master’s degree in nuclear chemistry
from the University of Pittsburgh He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Clark College in Atlanta
2005 BLAZERS q 15
UAB CROSS COUNTRY
Conference USA: New Look Same raphy group similar institutions together provides C USA with significant national
Commitment to Excellence create a divisional model and stage a foot and regional exposure for football men’s
ball championship game It will be very and women’s basketball and all other con
Get to know Conference USA We embrace exciting to watch this league grow and ference sports Additionally the CSTV
a new era with fresh faces and a renewed develop ” agreement includes video on demand
commitment to excellence and leadership Internet broadband national over the air
in athletics academics and community SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD and satellite radio and wireless distribu
involvement Conference USA performers have achieved tion as well as corporate marketing rights
great success in competition placing the and website production through CSTV
C USA begins a new chapter in league among the top conferences in the Online a subsidiary of CSTV The agree
after celebrating years of remarkable nation ment with ESPN extends the conference’s
history Six nationally prominent universi MEN’S BASKETBALL current regular season football package to
ties Marshall Rice SMU Tulsa UCF and • Consistently rated as one of the top bas include the broadcast of the conference’s
UTEP join tradition rich members East ketball leagues in the country Football Championship Game starting
Carolina Houston Memphis Southern • postseason teams ( NCAA and with the inaugural event in It also
Miss Tulane and UAB – to form the new NIT) encompasses distribution of men’s basket
look of the league This combination fur Strong fan support drawing a nearly mil ball and women’s basketball on
ther enhances our men's and women's pro lion fans each season ESPN/ESPN and both tournament cham
grams that are steeped in athletic success • Among the nation’s best in home atten pionship games
and academic prowess dance
• Two Final Four teams A PROUD HISTORY; A PROMISING
All C USA institutions sponsor Division I A • Four Elite Eight NCAA Tournament FUTURE
football along with several other men's teams Conference USA was formed in and
and women's athletic programs many of • One NIT Champion quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top
which compete regularly for NCAA • Four NIT semifinalists conferences The conference unveiled its
Championships C USA sponsors competi name logo and commissioner on April
tion in sports nine for men (baseball FOOTBALL in Chicago The league’s charter
• Began competition in members included Charlotte Cincinnati
CONFERENCE USA
basketball cross country football golf
soccer tennis and indoor and outdoor • Rated among the top seven conferences DePaul Houston Louisville Marquette
track and field) and for women (basket in the nation Memphis Saint Louis Southern Miss
ball cross country golf softball soccer • teams have earned bowl bids Tulane UAB and USF Eleven of the insti
swimming and diving tennis indoor and • Member of the Bowl Championship tutions began athletic participation in
outdoor track and field and volleyball) Series while Houston joined competition in
• Bowl ties ins with the AutoZone Liberty the fall of
C USA along with league administrators Bowl (champion) GMAC Bowl Sheraton
and coaches maintains an unwavering Hawai’i Bowl Fort Worth Bowl and the The league’s headquarters were estab
commitment to the academic and athletic Wyndham New Orleans Bowl lished in Chicago and after nine years relo
excellence of our member institutions cated to the current office in Irving Texas
SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD Britton Banowsky was named
The league sponsors numerous academic C USA institutions are among the nation’s Commissioner in October succeeding
awards including the Commissioner's best in academic performance among stu Mike Slive the league’s first commissioner
Honor Roll and the Commissioner's dent athletes bolstered by the fact that
Academic Medal indicative of outstanding student athletes at league schools have a C USA added East Carolina (September
achievement in the classroom C USA higher graduation rate than the general ) and the United States Military
annually awards six postgraduate scholar student population Among C USA’s Academy (March ) as football mem
ships along with the Sport Academic student athletes there are champions off bers ECU began league competition in
Award Scholar Athletes of the Year and the playing field as well In nine years ; Army in and UAB began foot
the Institutional Academic Excellence student athletes earned national Verizon ball play in The league added TCU
Award Academic All America honors while and ECU ( ) for all sports and they
were named All District In addition more began competition in USF started C
The membership changes have given C than student athletes have been USA football in
USA the opportunity to play a pivotal role named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll
in the changing face of conference affilia or received the Commissioner's Academic Since its formation C USA has established
tions and have reinforced the league’s posi Medal indicative of outstanding achieve a foundation an identity and a history that
tion in collegiate athletics for years to ment in the classroom reflects the league’s national presence C
come USA celebrated its th Anniversary during
C USA ON TV the season marking a significant
“We are excited about our new member C USA enjoys significant television expo milestone for the league and setting the
ship and making structural improvements sure through its partnerships with ESPN course for the next decade and beyond
to Conference USA ” Banowsky said “It is Inc and College Sports Television
an opportunity for us to tighten our geog Networks (CSTV) The league entered into
a long term agreement with CSTV which
2005 BLAZERS q 16
MISSION STATEMENT
After 25 years of serving the state as a
premier medical and dental school, UAB
was established in 1969 as an
autonomous university within the
University of Alabama system. It now
serves as one of the nation's top ranked
universities in research support, higher
UAB HOSPITAL education and provider of world-class
UAB Hospital, the centerpiece of the UAB medical care.
Health System, is Alabama's major terti-
ary care center and a modern medical
complex serving approximately 35,000 OUR VISION
patients annually. The university hospital The University of Alabama at Birmingham
is a major center for clinical research,
and the home of some of the top shall be a leading contributor to the
medical programs in America. intellectual development of humankind
and a compassionate provider of health
services of the highest quality.
KIRKLIN CLINIC
The Kirklin Clinic is a
specially designed
center for outpatient
care housing more
than 600 physicians
HILL UNIVERSITY CENTER in 35 specialties.
The Hill University Center serves
as the focal point for Student
Affairs at UAB since most of the
units are housed in this complex.
The facility also serves as a hub
for campus life because many
co-curricular activities take place
in the various multi-purpose
areas of the building.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Established in 1971, the UAB
School of Business and the
Graduate School of Management
currently enroll approximately
2,000 students. A full-time facul-
ty of 54 outstanding academicians ALYS
offers undergraduate majors in STEPHENS CENTER
Accounting, Economics, Finance, A world-class perform- HONORS HOUSE
Management and Marketing. ing arts center alive The center of identity
with music, dance and and community for
theatre, enriching the the Honors Program
culturing life of the city is the Honors House.
is the mission of the All of the instruction-
Alys Stephens Center al and social activi-
— Alabama’s Home of ties of the Honors
the Performing Arts. Program take place in
this facility.
Day Date Event Location
Friday September 2 Belmont Opener Nashville, Tenn.
Friday September 9 Memphis Nighttime Classic Memphis, Tenn.
Saturday September 17 Alabama Crimson Classic Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Friday September 30 Notre Dame Invitational South Bend, Ind.
Saturday October 15 Brooks Pre-National Meet Terre Haute, Ind.
Sunday October 30 C-USA Championships New Orleans, La.
Saturday November 12 South Region Championships Gainesville, Fla.
Monday November 21 NCAA Championships Terre Haute, Ind.
PS-15503